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Monday, September 28, 2015

Since
buying a house is one of the most important decisions you are likely to make
during your lifetime, the whole thing can both be exciting and challenging at
the same time. So, how do you buy the perfect home without stressing yourself
out? Here are some tips that can lead you in the right direction.

1.Define your needs and wants. Make a list
of what you need and want in a home and take it with you as you go searching
for the right house. Reassess the items on your list after viewing a few homes
and make the necessary adjustments.

2.Check your budget. To get an idea on how
much house you can afford, take a serious look at your monthly budget
(excluding rent) and see how much you have left after paying the bills. This
amount represents how much you can spend for the mortgage and other
house-related expenses (insurance, taxes, repairs, etc.).

3.Get to know the neighborhood. Do your own field work to
make sure the neighborhood is everything you imagined it to be. Drive by the
property or walk around the area at different times of the day to get an idea
of what goes on there, and consider its proximity to schools, transport and
amenities.

4.Find a good real estate agent. Interview
several real estate agents in your area before choosing one. Since you will be
working closely with your chosen agent, go for one whom you feel you can trust
and connect with on a more personal basis.

5.Understand how the offer process works.
When you finally find the house of your dreams, you need to know how the offer
process works. To increase your chances of making a successful bid, you need to
know how long the property has been on the market and how the owner’s asking
price compare to other properties in the area. Don’t forget to factor in
contingencies such as property inspections and financing in your offer to
protect you against any untoward events.

You can find the perfect house that fits
your budget by following these simple tips so keep these in mind as you go searching
for the house of your dreams. Happy house-hunting!

About me: I am a Mom and aAlpharetta, GA Realtorworking with home buyers and home sellers in the Alpharetta,
Cumming, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, Duluth, Buford, Marietta,
Canton and Woodstock areas. My Motto: No One Sells a Home Like a Mom. Search for Alpharetta, GA homes for sale at http://www.pamsantoro.bhhsgeorgia.com/

Saturday, September 19, 2015

No matter how great your property is, you cannot expect to
sell at a good price if you are surrounded by bad neighbors. Unfortunately,
everyone has them.

According to the Appraisal Institute, the largest professional
association of real estate appraisers in the country, bad neighbors can
significantly reduce the value of nearby properties by 5% to 10%.

Since home
values can be affected by external obsolescence (economic or locational factors
outside the property), homeowners should always be aware of what’s going on in
their neighborhood and be prepared to take the necessary steps to correct the
problem before it gets out of hand.

So, what should you do when you are surrounded by troublesome
neighbors? Here are some tips that you may want to consider.

·Find
strength in numbers. Speak with your other neighbors and approach the
offending neighbor together. Make sure you get a consensus when identifying
issues before making a move.

·Review
local laws. If you cannot convince other neighbors to complain against the
offending neighbor, review your local laws and ordinances to see if they are
committing any violations. If they are, report the issue to the code office.

·Hire an
attorney.If none of these options work, then you may want to consider
hiring an attorney to solve the issue and avoid any potential loss in your
home’s value.

In the same manner, potential homebuyers should also be more
vigilant when looking for their next home. They should visit the neighborhood
at different times of the day to get a feel of what’s really going on in the
area, and reduce the likelihood of living near a neighbor from hell.

About me

I am a Mom and a Alpharetta, GA Realtor working with home buyers and home sellers in the Alpharetta, Cumming, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, Duluth, Buford, Marietta, Canton and Woodstock areas.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

What are the best design choices to improve the value of my house?

Are you thinking about selling your home? If you are seriously toying about the idea of putting your property in the market, you may need to invest in it to attract the attention of potential buyers, make it sell faster, and make a good profit in the process. While there are a lot of things that you can do to accomplish this goal even if you are on a tight budget, investing a little more money on certain remodeling projects can make a huge difference. So, which home improvement projects should you focus on? Here’s what the experts recommend.

Do a kitchen upgrade. Experts agree that updating your kitchen can maximize the value of your home. So, upgrade your countertops (Tip: most home buyers love granite and/or stainless steel countertops), add a splash of color by changing the backsplash, replace old appliances with energy efficient appliances, and change cabinet doors and fixtures. To add that “wow” factor, you may want to consider adding an island (a definite must-have in most home buyer’s list) and creating a pantry.

Give the bathroom a modern look.Studies indicate that remodeling a bathroom and/or installing an additional bathroom significantly increases the value of any property. To get the most bang for your buck, consider installing a shower with body spray, a second sink, and a new tile floor. You should also consider installing stylish faucets, lighting fixtures, and cabinet hardware to complete the look.

Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. You can tackle one project at a time since every small improvement counts.

Ask Pam Santoro: Do you have questions about how to buy/sell a home? Ask Pam Santoro, your friendly neighborhood Alpharetta real estate agent. Be sure to visit my blog and real estate website today! No one sells a home like a mom!

Friday, September 4, 2015

If you are thinking about selling your
home, this may be the right time to put your property on the market. According
to the National Association of Realtors, median sales prices of existing homes
sold in April 2015 increased by 8.9% as compared to the previous year.

To further increase your chances of selling
your home fast and help you get top dollar in the process, here are some tips
you may want to consider.

1.Price it right. If you want to attract a
lot of potential buyers, try taking 15% to 20% off what your home is really
worth. This does not only ensure that you will receive multiple bids – there is
a great chance that interested buyers will bid up the price!

2.Stage your home –inside and out. While
you need to organize every room in your home, you may need to pay particular
attention to the kitchen and the master bath. You also need to create a great
curb appeal, and declutter and de-personalize your entire home before showing
it to potential buyers.

3.Be show-ready at all times. You’ll never
know when a potential buyer will walk through your front door so you need to
make sure your house is in great condition at all times. Keep in mind that
first impression can determine whether your house will sell or not.

4.Do pre-inspection repairs. Since it
costs less to do repairs before a home inspection, consider hiring your own
home inspector to help you determine which needs to be fixed before you put
your house in the market.

5.Work with the right Realtor. Hire the
wrong Realtor and you may not sell your home. For best results, choose an agent
who is knowledgeable, has a great work ethic, vast network of contacts, and an
engaging personality. Having a tech-savvy agent also helps.